IT is fitting around the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death that I reissue comments from my letter of March 1996 on the subject of our “friends” in the EU.

While our sale of beef to the EU was being blocked, BSE was just as rampant in France as it was in the UK. They called it “le Staggers” and as such at was not subjected to any restrictions.

Some friends. These so-called friends were burning truck loads of English lamb and costing our exporters millions of pounds by blocking the Channel ports.

Perhaps Shakespeare had this in mind when he said through John of Gaunt: “Methinks I am a prophet new inspired.”

While I am an ardent Royalist and we haven’t had a better monarch since her namesake Elizabeth I, it grieves me that every time she signs into law a piece of EU legislation she breaks her coronation vows.

I am sure it grieves her as much as it grieves me. With all the foregoing I can think of no other outcome than to vote “Out” when it comes to the referendum.

K Barnes, North View, Catterton, Tadcaster